Showing 54 results

Narrative by [Col Alexander George] Victor Paley of the experience of a Bn of Infantry near Hamars, Normandy, during the invasion of Europe, 1944.

Appendices to the report by the War Office Committee on Repair in the Field, including lists of people interviewed and places visited, the present system of repair in the British Expeditionary Force, details of the system for providing spares, transport and communications, workshops, staff organisation, and numerous recommendations to improve the service. 102pp.

Papers including maps, relating to operations of British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium, 1940-1941; Staff College study of Italian campaign, 1915; papers including those by Maj Gen G M Lindsay relating to armoured support for 7 Infantry Brigade, 1933-1934; appendix, including maps of Britain annotated for exercises including SPARTAN, 1943; correspondence dated 1977-1978 with Martin Alexander of St Antony's College, Oxford including Franco-British military relations, 1939-1940; notes of conversation in 1975 with Dr A W J Houghton relating to the evacuation of Dunkirk, 1940.

Letter from Dr A W J Houghton to his son, describing a conversation with Bridgeman in which he answered questions on his role in the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in 1940, notably the writing of the evacuation orders, difficulties in communication with the French, an assessment of Gen John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, Maj Gen Bernard Law Montgomery, and other commanders. Includes a covering letter from Houghton on depositing the letter at the Centre, explaining his reasons for doing so, and giving an account of the circumstances in which it was written, and a copy reply. 7pp.

Correspondence between Bridgeman and Major Lionel Frederick Ellis, concerning Ellis' official history of the 1939-1940 campaign in France and Flanders, and Bridgeman's commentary on the first draft, notably Ellis' assessment of Gen John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort.

Correspondence between Bridgeman and Martin Alexander, a second year research student at St Anthony's College, Oxford writing a thesis entitled 'The Maginot Line and the defence of France in British and French strategy in the 1930s'. Includes Alexander's questions and Bridgeman's replies on Franco-British military relations in 1939-1940, when Bridgeman was General Staff Officer Grade 1 at the Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force, and a copy of a paper by Alexander comparing the pre-war mechanisation in the French and British armies.

Index to the report by the War Office Committee on Repair in the Field. 7pp.

Notes for lecture by Maj Gen George Mackintosh Lindsay, Commander 7 Infantry Bde, on 'Anti-tank problems from the weapon point of view', describing the development of weapons with which to combat tanks. 4pp.

Text of lecture by Maj Gen George Mackintosh Lindsay, Commander 7 Infantry Bde, entitled 'Armoured support for infantry', notably on the possible creation of a tank brigade as part of a mobile division, and the benefits of increasing the offensive power of the British army in this way; lessons learnt in World War One regarding the use of machine guns, tanks and other weaponry, and the present position, and the need for a sustained programme of tank development. 20pp.

Text of address by Brig George Mackintosh Lindsay, Commander 7 Infantry Bde, to officers assembled at Cambridge for the War Office Tank Brigade Exercise, notably on the purposes of the exercise and the history of the Tank Brigade. 6pp.

Copy letter to Bridgeman from Brig George Mackintosh Lindsay, on a debate in the House of Commons which had some bearing on his proposal to create a mobile division. 3pp.

Map of the Lille-Ghent area of North-West Europe, printed by the War Office. Scale 1:250,000. Area around Lille, from Bethune to Tournai and Menin to Douai, marked in pencil.

Maps used during exercise SPARTAN, undertaken by British 2 Army on the south coast in preparation for the invasion of Europe, notably a narrative of events from the British and the 'German' army, and a map showing demolition and bridging work.

Memorandum from General Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force, entitled 'Front line duties and patrolling', and consisting mainly of translations of recent French army memoranda concerning the importance of methodical observation of the enemy front before raids or patrols are undertaken, and the psychological effects on young soldiers of their first tour of duty. 13pp

Draft 'Memorandum on the Training of Infantry M T Personnel' by [Maj Gen George Mackintosh Lindsay, Commander 7 Infantry Bde, and Bridgeman], regarding methods of providing increased mechanical training in the army. 10pp.

Memorandum from Bridgeman concerning the disbandment of General Headquarters, First Echelon, British Expeditionary Force, and the disposition of personnel. 2pp.

Commentary by Col W P H Hill and Lt Col Henry Osborne Curtis, Staff College, Camberley, on No. 7 Syndicate's report on the Italian Campaign of 1915. 7pp.

Precis of lecture on 'Military Evolution' given by Brig George Mackintosh Lindsay, Commander 7 Infantry Bde, at the Southern Command Staff College candidates course, with emphasis on the importance of weaponry. 5pp.

Notes on the Southern Command's 'Mobile Force exercise, 18-21 Sep 34', by Maj Gen George Mackintosh Lindsay, Commander 7 Infantry Bde, giving an overview of the preparations for this exercise using a combined tank and infantry force, and the conclusions drawn. 9pp.

Notes by Maj Gen George Mackintosh Lindsay, Commander 7 Infantry Bde, entitled 'Some notes on the support battalion and kindred subjects', including the historical background, post war experience, and the offensive power of the machine gun. 10pp.